Abuja-Kaduna highway ‘dangerous’

The Senate yesterday labelled the popular Abuja-Kaduna highway one of the most dangerous roads in Africa due to the activities of kidnappers and armed bandits on the expressway.

The Senate’s position may be contrary to the declaration of the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, who assured travellers plying the route that the road had been cleared of undesirable elements.
Senator Shehu Sani, from Kaduna State, who contributed to a motion on “Urgent need to increase the number of couches to the Abuja-Kaduna railway line,” described the highway as one of the most dangerous on the continent.

Senator James Manager, from Delta State, countered that the highway is the most dangerous in Africa.
The Delta Central senator noted that it was apparent that only those who wanted to commit suicide would ply the road.
Sani said the motion should be the saving grace for the rich and the poor.
He added that the government should patronise local manufacturers for the production of couches.

Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah (Kebbi South) urged government to increase the frequency of the train service between Abuja and Kaduna. Na’Allah said the impression should not be created that the expressway had been abandoned to kidnappers and bandits.
The Chairman of Senate Committee on Land Transport, Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos East), described the motion as very important.

He told his colleagues that he just returned from China on a trip that was necessitated by the pressure on the rail lines.
According to him, the Federal Government had paid for 64 couches, eight of which will be delivered within eight weeks.

Senator Magnus Abe (Rivers South) said the Senate should take into cognisance the fact the rail lines were built with borrowed funds.
The senator noted that the view of the Nigerian Railway Corporation should be taken into account in relation to fare.
Ndume, in his lead debate, expressed concern about undue pressure on existing facilities on the Abuja-Kaduna railway line.

Most passengers en route Abuja-Kaduna, he said, turned to the railway as a safer means of transportation.
The Borno State senator said he was aware that the surge in the patronage of the rail services may have been attributed to its safety, comfort, convenience and perhaps affordability.

These, he said, drew many commuters, following the high risks on the Abuja-Kaduna expressway, occasioned by the activities of kidnappers, armed robbers and other criminals.
The surge, he added, has led to rowdiness during ticket purchase and survival of the fittest for passengers willing to buy tickets across the counters as officials deliberately hoard and sold tickets to the highest bidders.